Chapter 10: Jin Dayeon
mhh‘It’s a person.’sudH
MX2BI hid behind the bookshelf and observed her movements.rGWACHA
urcTrThe student was quietly seated at a table, reading a book. Did she even realize the state the school was in right now?017
yYRjILThere was a crazed guard roaming the first floor. Most people were either hiding or running in fear—just like me.BbtB
B6GEUQmBut she read as if none of this was frightening. What could she possibly be thinking?xOkGW
rpHeAs I watched her from behind the shelf, I caught a glimpse of her face. Black hair with a bluish sheen and sharp eyes. Her whole appearance reminded me of a feisty cat.33xh1
z0mqnySuddenly, it hit me.OzI
SDI‘Ah.’IhOogi
CKwI remembered. She was the same girl who had been watching me from the art room window.U2fAso
Gx8JDQMBack then, she seemed so unreal I thought she was part of a painting. Now, seeing her moving so normally—it felt a bit surreal.rSKqGlm
BEC8b‘So she was here.’ancZT
M4AShe’d vanished from the hallway on the fourth floor, and I’d wondered where she’d gone. Turns out, she was right next to the art room.NAb7T79
8ng7As I kept watching her, something dawned on me. Why was I even doing this?StA
oWj2f7Once I realized the presence I’d felt upon entering the library wasn’t a ghost but a person, I had no reason to stay hidden.B9N
y2A5Q2WBut for some reason, I hesitated. It was like an impenetrable, strange atmosphere surrounded her.l6M5VK
kRL7DI looked closer. Her pale, slender fingers flipped through the pages. She was clearly reading a book, but her expression was completely blank.6pp
iJaQIEmotionless. No smile, no interest in her eyes. More than reading, it seemed like she was forcing herself to memorize the characters.HIUirNP
txfxKNThat was how indifferent her face was. So why was she even reading?u77uo0
GeGJust as I thought that…Xs7VJ0
gljDWU“…How boring.”9lh1om
OP67fsShe closed the book she was reading and let out a soft sigh.HjKsj
AmnEven then, her expression remained rigid. She must have found it incredibly uninteresting.Ch1BMsG
BdJC4TTap.E09ZMe
HdX4HrShe set the book aside. Then, as if waiting for someone, she glanced at her watch. Was she about to leave?e328Hn
D6aZI watched the scene silently.4Phxe
T1tsu“Why don’t you just come out already?”9rsb
06pThe girl muttered toward the wall. But it wasn’t a random comment—she was clearly talking to someone.ZCUI
awtt‘Is she talking to me?’DPmQqYe
SQ7SI flinched. I did my best to stay quiet, pretending I hadn’t heard anything.FR8eQlt
mZS50dCome on, no way. I’d been hiding the whole time. There’s no way she could’ve noticed me.bYudT
T40JEciBut then, her gaze turned toward my hiding spot—straight to the bookshelf I was behind.TrRq
uV29Eb4Our eyes met through the gaps between the books. There was no mistake. Those cold eyes were looking directly at me.fLr
iBX2DR‘Shit…’rBpNrh
EXXVHCyIt was as chilling as running into the deranged guard. My heart nearly stopped.KRxkJ7
1boReluctantly, I stepped out little by little.hMnB
lkLTX“Uh… hi?”lcj5C
gxgYI greeted awkwardly. A strange, sharp embarrassment pierced my chest.UZ4Ko
YJFe“…”chv1
QbSnShe stared at me without a word. No reply.9zglIgF
nyFShe just scanned me from head to toe with a disapproving look.RhHVLv
FN7n‘I’m screwed…’B4n48k
h1L0UmCold sweat dripped from my forehead. Ten seconds passed like ten hours until she finally spoke.AblF8
v3TH8qf“I’ve been waiting for you.”zqqZ
iMtw4E“…Me?”JwubwH
EevDShe nodded and continued.UpsmZ
CELkwa“But you’ve just been hiding there all this time.”mSR
gf5V67H“Well, that’s…”aYJo6
mFLEyXdI didn’t know how to respond.UkgT
4GM“Do you like spying on people? Are you a pervert?”mA4
ZoYa1k“No, it’s not like that…”OPWrQ7K
O88RShe hit me with that accusation with the same blank expression. I tried to explain quickly, but she wasn’t even listening.V5cjVix
7ZVNAw“Let me give you some advice.”TNo
Jyj1She got up from the chair and walked over to me with heavy steps. Then, firmly pressed her thin finger against my chest.LLxD
eP2WyXP“If you don’t want to die, you’d better start taking this seriously. This school is no place for idiots like you.”lVs
rgXGoShe said it with a cold, firm voice. For the first time, her face showed an emotion.7ycnC5Z
Ytq1I instinctively knew she wasn’t saying it just to sound cool—she meant every word.w1p
QO9‘Is this because it’s a game?’JsFJA
epWnxTDHer words felt like something a character from an RPG Maker game would say. Just as I thought that, I felt her piercing gaze.e1k
klUSps4“Are you even listening to me?”JDi
F0EXEQ2“…Yeah, of course.”xpcPrY
C0kUCCAShe stared at me with eyes full of contempt. To avoid being judged any further, I looked away.yM4bL
W5J0aThat’s when I saw her name tag on her uniform.h67F4
n7wr5I read what it said.jPU
uSx7zoi“…Jin Dayeon?”VrEu
mR2CThe name was familiar. It was the same name I’d found on the flute and the gym uniform earlier.zX86YE
kgzRXWhich meant—KCVa
TYL“Yes, that’s my name.”84c
hXPTjjIDayeon replied indifferently. Her expression was just as blank as ever.EHu
qE6UKShe didn’t seem interested in talking to me any longer.QRViQ
GcP8z“Wait a second.”1ujal
ArfX“What, got something to say?”wwvQnQ
5QKOf course I did. Honestly, I had a ton of questions. But I’d been stammering like a fool the whole time, overwhelmed by Dayeon’s intense presence.a20lBzo
RL5Just as I finally worked up the nerve to ask what was going on—Bu25HTs
qomSFlash!NYD
qpmtQ5v[1. What’s going on in this school?]5Zz
Bat3y[2. Who are you, really?]7ooMu
lBfPRTwo choices appeared.AttG
fBqtpsNo need to guess why. Even the questions had to be asked RPG Maker style?o6YEE
sqWI picked the first one.INmvFqM
Jd9“What’s going on in this school?”WiQ3
OeZx“I don’t know if I’d say something ‘happened’… it’s more like, it’s always been this way.”Sp84vmR
1PjGiBwDayeon answered matter-of-factly. But what she said was shocking.IW3rq
TBLmdGc“This school transforms like this every single night. 365 days a year.”WHvdtBS
zRanmv5“…What?”IQxz
Y2msGr“Don’t ask why. Even if I explained, you wouldn’t understand.”3BR5o
b5EQHer nonsensical answer left my head in a mess. Dayeon shut her mouth without adding anything else.d6KwQKD
0SuuNo matter what I asked her, she clearly had no intention of giving more information.rlTXDhm
1aEBIDI had no other choice. That was all I could get about the school. So I immediately moved on to the next question.6pK7k
cDa9OUFlash!Of68E
Jvd[1. What’s going on in this school?]A6A
ipFHhhS[2. Who are you really?]cvFNaS
ENDqI chose option 2.qlWVFb
O19e“Who are you really?”Oh7y
s9cgFq“That’s a secret.”v2q
luy5guwDayeon brought her index finger to her lips. This time, her attitude was more assertive.0V4eQ
o9wYS“But don’t worry. I don’t intend to harm you.”fe3PBJy
zTnpJqShe whispered as if trying to reassure me. Her breath brushed my ear.SrB25o
sTTwgChills ran down my spine. I instinctively stepped back.zBMFvg8
BrIH“You think that’s going to impress me?”6blgz
KGJgEt“I thought you’d like it.”SsBJxm
qZuj6Y“And why would I?”MfOUTI
3eS3q“Because you’re a pervert.”j59BMNV
JP65“…I’m not.”5gzZo6c
vPYjIWe continued with pointless back-and-forth. But we weren’t getting anywhere. I still didn’t know who she was, so I couldn’t let my guard down.oTbHTxe
KAJOI“Don’t look at me like that.”LyW
tako“And how should I look at you? How do I know you’re not up to something?”Kjx2w
konbA“Well… I suppose you could think that.”IFI1l
6YJDayeon muttered cryptically.mlTw6
fCWCtoT“I’m not up to anything. In fact, I’m the one who needs your help.”S5oSg
KHDhE“You need my help?”o0yc
gA6J“Yes.”WJuJIBG
06iShe answered with no expression.9nCRG
yO7With that emotionless face, I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not.qJH
oRAR“But I don’t have any proof of that.”n7GjR
pWqpB“Proof, huh…?”Ptpyhz
DIoS4Dayeon rested her chin on her hand, thinking. After a moment, as if she remembered something, she rolled up her sleeve.emL6
biKw“Will this do?”GJT8H
Rl1ZmSuddenly, she showed me her wrist. On her pale skin were dozens of clearly defined red marks.WAF
J5eQFW‘What the hell…?’Km8pt7
KXwta6…They were self-inflicted scars. Horrible wounds. How many times had she hurt herself to end up like this?LKiQVFx
WBHdYThe scars ran from her wrist up her arm. It was nearly impossible to look at.TsVRdgE
gy3Phqz“Do you feel like talking now?”SN5iQF
p5Iz“You…”p6z
kBhIs7E“I’m also trapped in this school. For ten years.”tE2mC7
p4h51Dayeon raised both hands to show the number ten with her fingers. Looking closely, her other hand had scars just as severe.26WW
ylXda7vI didn’t know what to say. She simply shrugged like it was nothing.aox3n0
YfSL5“If you want, I can show you plenty more proof.”1hFjvPk
VjXrOShe said, extending her hands toward me. I frowned instinctively.pgUAx
RYFxPF“That’s enough. Put them down.”B6f8GJU
hLsI grabbed her arms and moved them aside. Only then did the scars disappear from view.beR
S7J9sA“What’s wrong? Does it scare you?”kDhc
qy2G“And what if it does?”AoblA
ceUUntil just a moment ago, her face had shown no emotion, but now she wore a slight smile. It gave off a dangerous vibe—like someone I shouldn’t get involved with.6mizD
kSwQx“Once you’re trapped in this school, you can’t even die even if you want to. You’re doomed to live forever.”czdOk
i7dcQThe countless scars on her arms were more than enough proof. Her words were clearly true.
But in my case, when I die, I go back to just before it happens.Fe5vYi
Ig7It seemed that wasn’t the case for Dayeon. She hadn’t experienced death.WgA
i1i“Do you want to stay trapped in this school forever like me?”Gmm2e
R8Oza“Not a chance.”JUv
BVz2e“Then help me.”6d4sWft
MpaWNUcA statement that left no room for argument. More than a request, it sounded almost like a command. I immediately felt reluctant.sJ2A
FlM“And why should I?”a5T
cas“Well, there are many reasons, but to put it simply—your goal and mine are the same.”jh6zG
v12E9qD“Escaping the school?”ygMv
t6nfDayeon nodded and began to explain.3aZ
WCKzd“You’re the first person to enter this school in ten years.”tuml4cU
JXy77ql“And that’s why you want to escape with me?”FHLq
XxRAX“Exactly. On your own, you won’t be able to get out. Neither will I. That’s why I’m saying we should join forces.”cnJ3xKO
SQvOPXDayeon pressed her palms together. She wanted to convey that we should cooperate, but I wasn’t entirely convinced.feWJDHe
N7hKJajBetween her wrists, the scattered scars peeked through. They still looked horrifying to me.xUg
OWhJ1‘She said ten years… it must be true.’rCqNxH
abp3I could vaguely understand why Dayeon always wore that blank expression. After spending ten years in this cursed school, maybe I’d end up the same.a7UGSC
8BIw“If you’re ready, follow me. There’s something I want to show you.”4QPDa
zVQT9QDayeon began walking without even waiting for my response. What should I do?1G0
JZdEAwI wasn’t sure if I should completely trust her.NCCKsS
nQB‘Either way, I’ve got nothing to lose.’g1iessj
7SNcKLEIn this situation, I had no one else to rely on. And even if she was lying… the worst that could happen was that I die.pyeFq
a45Dying was scary, sure, but as long as I had the diary, there was nothing to fear.HWaskBY
sfaQPI followed Dayeon, who was slowly moving away.uhal5qN
k92hd“You’re slow.”2UXeXwM
J6GOWl“I move at my own pace.”Z7Dy4
Q31We reached the center of the library. Dayeon started rummaging through some drawers.aLfo
rnu“If you want to escape the school, you need to solve the puzzles hidden all over the place.”g9MrQf
6ASs“I already knew that.”CGnup
0bckZdfI remembered the places I’d been so far. Except for the bathroom, there were puzzles in every corner of the school.282Xm
FkY4wf5“This library is no exception. It has one hidden too.”OwBP
3UYgtN“Then you must’ve solved it already, right? You said you’ve been here ten years.”sJn
I4hDayeon didn’t answer. She only murmured quietly with her emotionless face.HEN
f1RH8z“…You’ll see for yourself.”XnZ
qX5She pulled a key from the drawer. It was marked with the number 1.doB
oCA“See? So you did solve the puzzle.”ajcQQy
zrqi“…”qeJ5
psoUDayeon deliberately ignored my comment. She seemed uncomfortable, so I decided to drop it.whxJyM
oKfTF“Follow me. There’s another place.”LQN
EemwitgThen she headed toward the bookshelf section. The smell of old books filled the air.wFYUfNC
sCuDUqAnd the layout was tangled like a maze. Dayeon moved without hesitation, as if she knew the path by heart.U6Nu0Im
jo7At the end of the shelves, another key was hanging.7aam
j4YAHP3“Here.”IU3C
1ePVv5She handed me the key she had just found. It was marked with the number 2.MKD9
dXQ0em[You have obtained Key No. 2.]U4tZbz
PDUAfter that, we left the section immediately. As we returned to the library, Dayeon asked me a cryptic question.EqAuu
gDNhj“Do you know why I haven’t been able to leave this school in over ten years?”yz6iuQA
Zk2“…No. What happened?”KEhOEY
ZyFmInstead of answering, she raised her hand and pointed at something.8hs
Wsvs“The shelf?”eui
X9qSdWhere she pointed, there were two bookshelves placed side by side.azUKq
ec2PmDayeon shuffled over and placed a book into an empty slot. Then—hCLc8Oz
zUsvuRumble…!mGEHL
0rKSThe two bookshelves slid apart, revealing a secret door.Lhl6P
EWTsgTwo hidden doors, side by side. And between them, a warning sign.xF1
xkW60sr[When both hearts beat as one, the doors shall open.]S9l
pGkr“I haven’t been able to solve this puzzle.”TiSvD
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